How to get an Agent
Getting an agent is one of the biggest steps in an acting career. Now, you can finally start auditioning for those coveted roles that were too good to be released to anyone other than agents! How exciting! So are you ready to start the search? Do you have your marketing materials in place - an 8x10 that looks just like you, a resume with killer credits, ademo reelwith quality pieces, a great cover letter? Do you know how to sell yourself?
What?! I thought it was the agent's job to sell me? Isn't that their job? Yes! However, you must look at acting as a business. You are your very first salesperson. You need to know how to sell yourself before anyone else is going to chance their reputation to sell you. That's why it's so important to build a resume on your own; it proves to agents that you already know how to sell yourself to casting directors.
So before you start the search, know your answers to some important questions. "Tell me about yourself" is huge. Having good answers with a beginning, middle and end is important. Be a storyteller! Don't worry about talking about your credits; they are already holding your resume in their hand. If they have a question about it, they'll ask. Tell a funny story about yourself. Show off your professionalism while making them want to represent you.
Representing you is an agents job once you sign, and its important that you do your research before you start looking. Who are the best agencies in town for you? We all know William Morris and CAA are two of the best, but are they the best for you? Probably not. When starting out, you need to find an agency that will help you launch a career. Remember, acting is a business. An agent is going to spend the most time on their clients that make them the most money, so you don't want to get lost in the shuffle at a big agency.
One of the most important things about an agent is the fact that this person is going to be representing you. This means that whatever reputation your agent has, you will now have it thrust upon you. If it's an agent that's known to work hard and have the best clients, awesome! If they are known to send out green actors who are unprepared and unprofessional, you are now categorized as such, even if you are the opposite.
Here are the basic steps to getting an agent once you've done the above:
1) Research what agencies are the best for you. Always google them to see what comes up. (Were they involved in a scam?)
2) Use IMDbPro to see who they represent. What age range, type, and credit level are they looking for? And which agent at the agency represents actors that are your type?
3) Submit! Do they request submissions in a certain way? Email, snail mail? Make sure that you submit to the specific agent at the agency that's best for you.
4) Some people will suggest you follow up. It's a simple phone call about a week later, and you simply say, "Hi, my name is []. I sent my material in about a week ago and I just wanted to confirm that you received it. Great! Thanks!" and no more. Some people will strongly suggest against this, including Tony Martinez, who has an awesome book "An Agent Tells All". (Read it! It's great!) I suggest you do whatever you are most comfortable doing.
5) If you get meetings, great! Be professional, cheerful and make them want you! If you don't, that's okay too. Don't get discouraged, keep doing what you are doing and resubmit in 6 months.
Remember to never pay money to an agent in order to be represented by them. Always do your homework on any potential agents; there are a lot of scammers out there wanting your money. Also, make sure any contracts you sign have an "out" clause. But the bottom line is, choose an agent that you feel comfortable with representing you. Remember, you are hiring them to sell yourcareer.
